Thailand Live Tuesday 1 Nov 2011

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Bangkhen is now under BMA's evacuation call. via @Neaw_NBC/@tulsathit

TR @yoware: BMA declares evacuation for Bangkhen, Sena Niwes 2 (Jorake Boa, Lad Prao district), Sam Wa Tawan-ok (KlongSamWa district)/@tulsathit

TR @yoware: BMA declares evacuation for Bangkhen, Sena Niwes 2 (Jorake Boa, Lad Prao district), Sam Wa Tawan-ok (KlongSamWa district)/@tulsathit

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KMUT expert Khomsan: Khlong Samwa gate must be opened, or damage would be beyond PM and BKK Governor's ability to handle./via@Biz_TheNation

KMUTT expert: Khlong Samwa is only exit of water from Rangsit.Keept gate closed will worsen situation./via

2Biz_TheNation

KMUTT expert: Khlong Samwa gate can open upto 1.5m, without causing damage to subsequent areasvia@Biz_TheNation

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Bkk Gov Evokes Disaster Prevention Law To Fix Sam Wa Sluice Gate

UPDATE : 1 November 2011

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra held his evening press conference around 7:30 P.M. this evening. His main worry centered on the damaged Sam Wa sluice gate. Sukhumbhand reiterated concerns voiced throughout the day by his deputy that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would lose all control of the water flow if the damaged flood gate was not fixed.

The Bangkok governor evoked the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Law to order Metropolitan Police in deploying a task force to protect BMA officials who need to fix the sluice gate. He said he did not trust authorities in the area and demanded that the city police offer his officials protection.

Earlier reports indicated that BMA officials going to in to try and fix the flood gate were threatened of bodily harm by locals in the area.

Last night, locals reportedly used household tools to try and pry the flood gate open even further after their agreement with the prime minister to open gates by one meter did not bring a satisfactory result.

In terms of areas to watch for flooding, the BMA added Nong Jok’s Tsai Thong Din and Tsai Thong Din Tai sub-districts to the watch list.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for Sananiwet Housing Development 2 in Jarakae Bua sub-district of Lad Prao District. Warnings have also been issued for Sam Wa Ta Wan Ok sub-district of Sam Wa District and the entire Bang Khen District.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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Expert advises wider opening of Khlong Samwa sluice gate

The Nation November 1,

Khlong Samwa sluice gate can be opened wider, upto 1.5 metre, without causing damage to subsequent areas, said a water management expert.

Komsan Maleesee of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang told Nation Channel that the water level at Saen Saeb Canal remains low and there is a gate in Min Buri to control the inflows. He noted that the water releases would also help ease the pressure on residents of Rangsit. The sluice gate at Khlong Samwa, if closed, could result in overflows and that would worsen the situation.

"The water (from Rangsit) is here and there is no other way to release the water from the area. It’s a matter of choice, whether you will manage it now or let it unmanageable," he said. "If things turn unmanageable, the damage would be beyond the ability of either the prime minister of the Bangkok governor to bear."

The gate is now open 1 metre wide, sparking fears that water could flood Bangchan Industrial Estate and Latkrabang Industrial Estate.

Deputy governor Theerachon Manomaiphiboon said that the entire city would be flooded if the Khlong Samwa sluice gate is open. He now enlisted 19 districts as flood-free zones.

However, deputy Science Minister Pornthep Tejapaibul said the diversion of water to the East of Bangkok would not affect the two industrial estates. "The situation remains controllable," he said.

The gate was opened that wide following strong pressure from local residents in the district. Some residents also destroyed the earthen sides of the sluice gate and so far they have barred any from fixing them.

This evening, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said in his daily press conference that he would exercise the law, which empowered him to order police to ensure smoothness in fixing "the gate". "If the gate remains unfixed, it could collapse and this could lead to severe flooding in Ramkhamhaeng and Ram Indra areas," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Flood creeps south down Phayonyothin; Lat Phrao & Chatuchak could be flooded by end of the week (Thai PBS)/via@RichardBarrow

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7 districts in BKK under evacuation order: Don Mueang, Bangplad, Saimai, Taweewattana, Lak Si, Talingchan, and Bang Khen TR @tanatpong_nna/via@tucky_nt

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9:21 pm FROC flood news in English now on Thai TV NBT/via@RichardBarrow

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On Ramintra, the water is well past Foodland now. South side still mostly dry, but north side ~20cm even in rightmost lane/via@thai101

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Large volume of water gushing onto Samakki Road near Klong Prapa. Via @AndersInNon @KribBKK/via@veen_NT

Livestock Dept to start sales of 5 mln eggs (30 for 115 Baht) from tomorrow (2PM) onward at headquarters in Ratchathawee, The Mall Deptstore/TAN_Network

FROC admits flooding spreading into wider area along Paholyothin, Bangkae, Paseechareon, Nhong Kam/TAN_Network

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New Phuket bus terminal hits ‘breaking point’

Phuket Land Transportation Office Chief Terayout Prasertphol says the Highways Office has full rights to proceed with work to complete access to the new bus station.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/509482-new-phuket-bus-terminal-hits-breaking-point/page__view__findpost__p__4814333

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FROC Admits Flood is Spreading

UPDATE : 1 November 2011

The Flood Relief Operations Center admits that flood is spreading into wider areas of Bangkok including the areas along Paholyothin Road, Bangkae, Paseechareon, and Nhong Kam. Officials have prepared 4,000 "big bags" weighing over a ton each and 600,000 sandbags to build barriers to withstand the flood water.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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Aussie couple in Phuket arrested over fake robbery claim

Head of Patong Investigation Team Maj Thammasak Boonsong points out the items originally reported stolen.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/509483-aussie-couple-in-phuket-arrested-over-fake-robbery-claim/

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‘Bar girls’ nabbed for spiking drinks, robbing Phuket tourists

The women used a combination of three prescription drugs to render their male victims unconscious.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/509484-bar-girls-nabbed-for-spiking-drinks-robbing-phuket-tourists/page__view__findpost__p__4814367

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Heartfelt condolences to Secretary Clinton on the death of her mother. Dorothy Rodham was 92. via @AP/via@KristieKenney

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